‘choice test Y tube setup’

To test the spider-repellent properties (or lack thereof) of certain natural compounds, a group of researchers subjected three species of spider to choice tests, in the setup shown here. A dual-choice Y-maze with air pump and sample bags was used to test the response of female adult spiders each putative repellent compared to a stimulus-free control. Females were introduced to the initial arm (left) of the Y-tube and were considered to have made a choice if they remained with their entire body length inside either decision arm (the two arms at right) for at least 30 seconds. (Image originally published in Fischer et al 2017, Journal of Economic Entomology.